Dendrobium diceras

Dendrobium diceras Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 16 (1919) 45.

Type: Kempter s.n. (Angriffshafen, Kaiser Wilhelmsland) (holo B, lost).

An erect epiphytic herb c. 40-45 cm tall; rhizome very short; roots filiform, flexuous. Pseudobulbs slender-fusiform, slightly plurisulcate, up to 37 cm long, 7-8 mm in diameter, commonly 3-leaved at apex. Leaves erect-spreading, coriaceous, somewhat obtuse, shortly contracted at the base, 10-12.5 by 2.3-3 cm. Inflorescences equalling or slightly overtopping the leaves, laxly 5-7-flowered; bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, a third to a quarter the length of the ovary. Flowers glabrous, fleshy; ovary and pedicel glabrous, c. 7-8 cm long. Sepals oblong, obtuse, c. 1 cm long; laterals oblique, forming with the column foot an angular-semi-globose mentum c. 4 mm in diameter. Petals falcate-ligulate, obtuse, slightly dilated towards the apex. Lip curvate, clawed at base, flabellate above, 3-lobed, c. 8 mm long, 12 mm broad, with a subulate fleshy horn at the base; side-lobes obliquely quadrate, rounded in front; midlobe much smaller than the side-lobes, obtusely triangular fleshy; callus fleshy, 3-lobulate, the 3 proximal keels rugulose and obtuse. Column very short, obtuse at apex.
(after Cribb, 1983).

Colours: Flower colours not known.

Flowering time in the wild: Not recorded.

Distribution: New Guinea.

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (near Vanimo, Sandaun Province).

Map: DICERMAP.JPG [Dendrobium diceras Schltr., distribution map.]

Notes: Dendrobium diceras is closely allied to Dendrobium aberrans and related species. It shares with them the somewhat globose mentum and clawed flabellate lip with a rugulose callus at the base. The type is now destroyed but Schlechter's detailed description indicates that it is most closely allied to Dendrobium dendrocolloides and Dendrobium pleurodes from which it differs in having a lip with a long subulate horn at the base and a small triangular obtuse midlobe.
(after Cribb, 1983).

Cultivation: Epiphyte (requirements not known).

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